Hands
Across Time

A regular round-up of heritage issues in local government. In this edition Heritage NSW profiles North Sydney Council's commemorative booklet, Hands Across Time and looks at some of the current heritage issues in Newcastle. Hands Across Time: A Guide to North Sydney's Aboriginal History and Culture was launched in March 1998 and celebrates the history of the Cammeraygal people, the original inhabitants of the North Sydney area. The Cammeraygal are believed to have lived in North Sydney for over 40,000 years and have left an indelible legacy through place names, rock carvings, hunting grounds and middens in the area. Indeed, contrary to popular belief, the Cammeraygal's descendants were still living in North Sydney as late as the 1930s. Jenny Munro, Chair of the Metropolitan Land Council, said the Cammeraygal people or Kurringai Tribe lived in rock shelters, under cliffs and in bushland such as Berry's Island in North Sydney.

Hands Across Time was launched in March 1998 and celebrates the history of the Cammeraygal people

Earlier in 1997, North Sydney Council also opened a special interpretative walking track on Berry's Island called the Gadyan Track. The track tells the history of Aboriginal settlement in the area through a series of special signs indicating to visitors the location of rock carvings and other places of Aboriginal significance on the island.

Speaking at the launch of Hands Across Time, NSW Heritage Office Director Rosalind Strong said the booklet was an important step in uncovering Sydney's Aboriginal heritage and praised its publication as providing a benchmark for other councils to follow. Council Historian Margaret Park said Hands Across Time had already attracted great interest and was being distributed to schools and community groups in the North Sydney area. Initial stocks will be free, with a $3 charge for the booklet once it is reprinted. For a copy of Hands Across Time, contact Margaret Park at North Sydney Council on (02) 9936 8411

Networking in Newcastle - Heritage Network meets The Heritage Network aims to keep heritage advisors and local government officers up to date on current issues affecting heritage, and provide training and an opportunity for discussion. A different council hosts each quarterly meeting, often in a building of local heritage significance. In February the Heritage Network meeting was held in Newcastle. Jennifer Groman, Heritage Officer for Newcastle Council, told the group about some of the heritage issues currently facing Newcastle. A city-wide heritage study has recently been completed. The study recommended that about 45 local character precincts be nominated in the Local Environment Plan. These are defined as "areas of generally consistent character relating to its landforms, or subdivision patterns, to the type, use and origins of its building stock or to other streetscape elements such as roads, trees and parks". A major component of the heritage strategy is the overall retention of existing housing stock by discouraging demolition and promoting the adaptive reuse of existing structures. One of the most urgent issues facing Newcastle in the 90s is carparking. As families move into the inner city, they bring expectations of being able to keep the two or three cars they were able to garage in the suburbs. In some residential areas small cottages are being demolished to provide 3-4 bedroom homes with garages. The influx of urban living in commercial areas also brings conflict when developers wish to provide carparking for above-shop housing, sometimes on small narrow lots. The impending departure of BHP and the potential demolition of its industrial site has important heritage implications for Newcastle. State, Regional and Local listed items could be affected. BHP is a significant industrial site and has provided thousands of jobs over the years. The Council is aware of the sensitivity of the issue and is currently wrestling with the contamination of the site and heritage issues.